Car-bolster.



No. 822,908. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906. J. B. BARNES. CAR BOLSTER.

APPLIUATION FILED MAB. 12, 1906,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1.906.v

Application filed MarohlZ, 1906. Serial-No. 305,613.

T0 all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA B. BARNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and Stateof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in OarBolsters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a care truck bolster, and has for its object toproduce a strong and durable bolster of light and inexpensive construction.

The invention consists in. features of novelty, as hereinafter described and' claimed, reference being hadv to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Whereon- Figure 1 is atop planview of my improved car-truck bolster Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof 3, an end view of thesame and Figs. 4 and 5, cross-sections through the bolster on lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, in Figs. 1' and 2.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the `figures.

a represents my improved car-truck bolster, which comprises a top compression member 1 and a bottom tension member 2, (hereinafter referred to as the top and bottom members, respectivelyf) Consisting, preferably, of a Wrought-iron plate of suitable width and' thickness.

The top and bottom members 1 and 2 are arranged at their maximum distance apart in the middle of the bolster a and converged therefrom to their end portions, which are straight and parallel to each other at their minimum distance apart to each end of the bolster a, the bottom member 2 being adapted thereat on its under side for the bolstersprings. The top member 1 is preferably cambered in the middle and the bottom opposite member 2 curved downward and thence inclined upward to its end portions, as shown, or the top and bottom members 1 and 2 may be otherwise configured in the side elevation of the bolster as desired.

The top and bottom members 1 and 2 are held apart and secured to each other in the middle of the bolster a' by, preferably, two parallel struts or fillers b, composed of malleable iron or cast-steel and which in the present case are substantially channel-shaped in cross-section, their webs 3 being vertically arranged between and longitudinally with the top and bottom members 1 and 2 opposite to each other at a suitable and equal distance, respectively, on eachr side of thelongitudinal' center line of the bolster a, the top and bottomflanges 4 and 4 of eachv filler I) extending outwardly from: the web 3 and adapted to bear against the inner opposite faces, respectively, of the top and bottom members 1 and 2. The flanges 4 and.' 4 are united integrally to each other at the middle and' ends (which are curved, as shown, or otherwise configuredv as desired) by ribs 5, which are integral with the web 3', suitable lightening-holes 6v being formed through the latter between the ribs 5, or inlieu of the doublek fillers b a single'filler may be used, of any other suitable shape incross-section, adapted tovbear at the top and bottomagainst the-inner faces of the members l and 2' and secured thereto by bolts or rivets.

The top flange 4 of each filler I) is formed along its outer edge for a suitable distance from each end with a hook or clip 7 and the bottom flange 4 with a similar, preferably, centra-l hook 7, the hooks 7 and 7 "in theassembled position of the parts embracing or interlocking with the corresponding longitu dinal edge portions of the top and bottom members 1 and 2, respectively, and thereby securely holding the topV and bottom memw bers 1 andl 2 against the flanges 4 and' 4:. The fillers are secured to each other transversely and their hook-s 'Z 7 simultaneously drawn into close engagement with the top and bottom members 1 and 2 by bolts 3, which pass through the webs 3 of the fillers b, as shown.

The top and bottom members 1 and 2 are held apart and connected to each other at each end portion of the bolster a by two opposite upright side pieces or fillers c, composed of malleable iron or cast-steel, each side piece c being adapted to engage in notches or recesses 9 9, formed therefor, respectively, in the longitudinal edges of the top and bottom members 1 and 2, as shown particularly to the left in Fig. 1, where the side pieces c are omitted for illustrating thisparticular cone structive feature. The side pieces c are secured to each other transversely by bolts 10, which pass therethrou h, as shown, each side piece c on its outer si e having the columnguides 11 integral therewith, and on its inner side at the top and bottom, or thereabout, longitudinal slots 12 and 12, which are adapted to receive the corresponding recessed edge portions, respectively, of the top and bottom members 1 and 2, so that when IOO IIO

the side pieces c are drawn together tightly by the bolts 10 the top and bottom members 1 and 2 are -firmly interlocked therewith by the slots 12 and 12. Moreover, each side piece c is preferably formed at its end in alinement to the end of the bolster a, with an inner flange 13, whereby when the side pieces c are in place and tightened together by the bolts 10 the flanges 13 will butt endwise against each other, and thereby close the end of the bolster a, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, or the flanges 13 maybe omitted, if desired.

On the upper side of the top member 1 are secured the usual side bearings 14 and the truck center plate 15, which is immediately over the middle fillers l) and perforated centrally for the king-bolt, as shown.

The advantage of my invention is that I obtain a light and inexpensive bolster of simple construction in which the various parts can be readily put together or disconnected at any place without special tools, and if either part becomes broken it can be replaced by a duplicate part without delay.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr- 1. A car-truck bolster, comprising a top compression member and a bottom tension member, consisting respectively of a metallic plate, the said top member having the center plate and side bearings -fixed. thereto, two opposite metallic, iillers interposed between and adapted to bear against the inner faces of the said plates at the middle portion of the bolster, the said -fillers having hooks adapted to embrace the longitudinal edge portions of the said plates thereat, and means for securing the said illers to each other, substantially as described.

2. A car-truck bolster, comprising a top compression member and a bottom tension member, consisting respectively of a metallic plate, the said top member having the center plate and side bearings iixed thereto, two opposite side pieces .interposed between and adapted to engage in notches formed therefor in the longitudinal edges of the said plate at each end portion of the bolster, the said pieces having slots in their inner sides adapted to embrace the longitudinal edge portions of the said notches, and means for securing the said pieces to each other, substantially as described.

3. Acar-trucl bolster, comprising a top compression member and a bottom tension member, consisting respectively of a metallic plate, the said top member having the center plate and side bearings iiXed thereto, two opposite metallic 'fillers interposed between and adapted to bear against the inner faces of the said plates at the middle portion of the bolster, the said iillers having hooks adapted to embrace the longitudinal edge portions of the said plates thereat, means for securing the said fillers to each other, two opposite side pieces interposed between and adapted to engage in. notches formed therefor in the longitudinal edges of the said plates at each end portion of the bolster, the said pieces having slots in their inner sides adapted to embrace the longitudinal edge portions of the said notches, and means for securing the said pieces to each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

JOSI-IUA B. BARNES. Witnesses:

MARY D. WHITooMB, EDWARD W. FURRELL. 

